The Laura Line

The Laura Line (Hardcover)

Description

Tween readers who loved the warmth and humor Crystal Allen brought to How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy will find the same winning combination in her new middle-grade novel, The Laura Line. Thirteen-year-old Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultra-cute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school makes fun of her for being overweight, and Troy won't give her a second glance. But a school assignment changes that. Laura is forced to learn the history of the slave shack on her grandmother's property, and she discovers she comes from a line of strong African-American women. Through understanding her roots, Laura finds the self-esteem she's been missing.

About the Author

During her childhood, Crystal Allen's parents and older brother worked in bowling alleys, so lucky Crystal spent many hours on the lanes, bowling for free. When she was seven, she won her first trophy: a bowling-pin bank filled with pennies! Since then, she's joined several bowling leagues and loves to bowl with family and friends. Crystal lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with her husband, Reggie, and two sons, Phillip and Joshua.

Praise for The Laura Line…

“Laura Dyson’s sweet, sassy voice draws you into this delightful story of self-discovery and acceptance, unwavering friendship and the deep roots of one amazing family.” -Donna Gephart, author of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEENPraise for HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY: “Under all the braggadocio is a boy with a big heart, and from the first sentence Lamar will have readers hooked.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)Praise for HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY: “This stands out for its unusual setting and smooth integration of friendship and family concerns. ” -Kirkus ReviewsPraise for HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY: “The powerful mix of sibling rivalry, revenge, and hard-won redemption strengthens the perennial appeal of the naïve-underdog-makes-good plot; readers will come for the laughs and stay for the laughs.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksPraise for HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY: “The tween book world has a new hero—Lamar Washington—as well as a brilliant new author who’s bound to win a Bubba-sized trophy herself!” -Neal Shusterman, author of THE SCHWA WAS HERE and BRUISER